Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Another church attacked in Lanka as president vows tough action
Press Trust of India Colombo, January 27
Another Roman Catholic church was attacked in Sri Lanka despite president Chandrika Kumaratunga vowing tough action against the perpetrators of violence against Christians in the Buddhist-majority country.
The "Shrine of the Mother Most Pure" at Mattegoda, 18 km east of Colombo, was stormed by dozens of men overnight who escaped after smashing statues, windows and burning bibles, a church member said.
Armed security personnel have been deployed at the church to enhance security following the attack, police said.
The attack came three days after President Chandrika Kumaratunga said over national television that she will take tough action against those responsible for a spate of attacks against Catholic and Christian places of worship.
She said there had been suggestions of police collusion, but said anyone found helping the attackers would be severely punished.
Kumaratunga, who holds the interior ministry portfolio, had asked police chief Indra de Silva to probe the attacks and show no leniency in arresting those responsible. Nine days ago, there was another attack on a Catholic church in the same area. The Roman Catholic church here condemned the attacks.
Some Buddhist monks have been demanding a law to ban what they call "unethical conversions" to Christianity.
The attacks against churches escalated last month following the funeral of a controversial Buddhist monk, Gangodavila Soma, who led a campaign against religious conversions.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2004.